(Clint Holton P. Potestas interviews a Cebuana making waves in Manila.

SHE still insists that she’s the same Southern girl everyone knows. But it is impossible not to notice the drastic changes that have happened to her, brought by the shift of quite an ironic turn of direction – first and foremost, by becoming Piolo Pascual’s mysterious girl. Who could forget the hunk’s yearning for her return on a wishbone at a chicken house?

That television advertisement of the popular fried chicken restaurant kicked off her career in mainstream entertainment, starting with changing her name, from Olivia Daytia to Isabel Oli (Isabel, taken from her screen name in the same promotion) to being recognized as GMA 7’s freshest face, gradually developing her talent as a character actress.

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You say, too quick for a change?

“To be honest, it wasn’t that difficult of a transition because beyond the showbiz career, I’m still the same, simple girl from Cebu. Of course, the responsibilities and expectations around me are much greater now, but that’s to be expected from anyone who matures into an adult,” says Isabel.

Before beginning a career in entertainment and modeling, she first completed her bachelor’s degree in Information Technology at the University of San Jose-Recoletos.

She jokingly comments about getting free items, but being famous has also social obligations, adding: “For me, the best part about being famous is being able to create an impact other people’s lives in a positive way. A smile, a wave – those gestures are enough to make my fans, especially kids, smile. And that really fills my heart with
joy.”

Once, on a flight to Manila, she met a fan on the plane that, on the spot, wrote a message on a greeting card and gave her a stuffed toy as gestures of his admiration.

It is not difficult to love her back or at the very least, recognize her face. She first starred in ABS-CBN’s soap opera It Might Be You in 2004 and an episode in Maalaala Mo Kaya with actors John Prats and Baron Geisler. But the most remarkable career event that featured her full potential was when she was chosen as the leading lady of Richard Gutierrez in the now-defunct GMA 7 series, Sugo.

Her successful portrayal led her to her first motion picture role in the film Moments of Love as the on-screen sister of Dingdong Dantes. So to say, luck just came, one after the other.

“I’m a huge fan of romantic comedies, so my dream role would be to play lead in local light rom-com (romantic-comedy) film, ala-Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle or You’ve Got Mail,” she says.

Surely, Isabel isn’t far away from reaching her desires. Just recently, she signed up with Moringo 02 Skin Care as the product’s latest beauty ambassador. In doing so, her idea of beauty has gone “all natural.”

But above all, maintaining a balanced diet and a workout regimen keeps her body sound. And a few little “sacrifices” in between: no sweets, white rice, and white bread. If her schedule permits, she hits the gym to lift weights.

“In this day and age, there are so many beauty products out there which advertisers sell to women promising this and that. My beauty philosophy is simple: the more natural, the better. That’s why Moringa O2 appealed to me so much: it combines ingredients like malunggay (moringa oleifera in the vernacular), olive oil and omega (sunflower) oil, which are all natural and, therefore, cares for my skin in the gentlest, most caring way possible. I’m addicted to it,” she concedes.

Isabel then concludes “Keeping a positive outlook and getting enough sleep are also both important in keeping healthy.”